Prioritising international sex crimes before the Special Court for Sierra Leone: Another potential instrument of political manipulation?

Abstract

Over the past two decades the prosecution of international crimes1 has become increasingly common, with international organizations and indi-vidual States taking political positions over their legitimacy and conduct. Efforts to ensure impartiality and independence in the selection of cases prosecuted however, have largely failed. Independent case selection has been compromised because States have sought to impede prosecution where they view doing so as antithetical to their interests. Unsurprisingly, States have been happy to allow prosecutions where they view them as furthering their interests. The power to impede, to allow and to shape case selection has therefore become a useful instrument of foreign policy for States. ....